Powdery mildew

• Avoid over-crowding of plants • Encourage good drainage and good soil aeration • Practice crop rotation • Use seeds treated with thiram or metalaxyl. • Drench the plants/seedlings with metalaxyl+ mancozeb or

Beauveria bassiana

Possible confusion

• Excessive fertilization • Stress due to excess water • Excess soluble salts • Pesticides residues • Excessive heat or cold • Note: symptoms arise from leaves before root damage occurs

2. Powdery mildew (Leveillula taurica)

It is caused by fungus Leveillula taurica, which primarily affect the old leaves, usually under hot and humid condition (temperatures above 250C). It is spread majorly by wind and sometimes by rain.

Patchy, white lesions on the lower surface of the leaf Yellow blotches on upper surface of the leaf.

Symptoms and damage

• This fungus induces yellow blotches on the upper leaves and a patchy white, powdery growth that enlarges to cover the underside of the leaves • Diseased leaves eventually fall off, exposing fruits to sun scald.